Beppo, "To William Cooke, Esq. on reading his Poetical Portraits of Celebrated Men" The Sun (11 November 1818).

Commentary for William Cook:

Commentary by Beppo:

Hail to the Great! they come at lastRight to pleasantly before us:—Look! — as each speaking verse is pass'd,Reality comes o'er us!In sooth, they're done most bold and free,Yet mark'd with strict fidelity.

LAWRENCE, away! no need thy touchTo make our Portraits fine;Henceforth we'll have them done in suchPoeticals as thine!So bold, so living, and so free,And yet exact fidelity!

The simple GOLDSMITH took his penAnd made, of those he priz'd,A sort of etching: Ah! those menWere but epitomis'd.Thine are whole-lengths — rich, bold, and free,Yet all exact fidelity!